Reunion time

A couple of ex-Crunchers could be coming through the War Memorial as foes this season.

Forward Mark Hartigan told me Thursday he has agreed to a one-year, two-way deal with the Detroit Red Wings. If Hartigan is sent to the AHL, he would play for Crunch divisional rival Grand Rapids.

"They're not a team that has first-rounders, or second-rounders, or third-rounders in the organization,'' he said of Detroit. "They don't worry about contracts. If you're the best player in camp, they find a way to put you on the team. Other teams have been all about contracts.''

Hartigan said he received a similar offer from Washington, which could have re-teamed him with ex-Crunch forward Joe Motzko, who signed with that organization.

And all-time pest David Ling has signed a two-way deal with the Maple Leafs, which means he could play for the Marlies, another divisional rival. Ling has spent the past two years playing in Russia.

I asked Ling whom he might go after when he plays against the Crunch. He laughed and said he doesn't really know anybody on the team anymore.

"I think it'd be totally different going in there now,'' he said. "Will I get the crowd going? Mmmm. I enjoy that.''

- Congratulations to Syracuse assistant Trent Cull and wife, Marcia, who had their second son, Wyatt, on July 10. Everybody is happy and healthy.

- The Crunch's first home game of 2007-08 is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13. That is the second weekend of the AHL season, so Syracuse will open with 1-to-3 games on the road.

- The installation of ribbon lighting in the War Memorial is scheduled for the week of Aug. 20. That process takes about two weeks.